2020 Begins with Gratitude

What am I thankful for, this beginning of 2020?

• The little people around me. Look at my grandson about to throw his Happy New Year headband. I only have a second to snap this picture.

• Talk Therapy

The last couple of weeks of 2019 was rough. I scheduled to talk to the therapist and it is finally here. Have you ever want to just spill your guts out but do not want to affect your loved ones in the process? The therapist has the perfect ears for that.

• Podcasts

I have my favorites and here are some by Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey, Dr. Michael Greger, and more. I shared this with a friend today who has some money issues. I especially recommend Dave Ramsey. Sometimes  Many times I need some scolding so I listen to his podcasts a lot.

• My Phone Camera

It is really handy to take pictures of my grandson. Look at him eat as he sat on the used high chair I bought for cheap at Facebook Marketplace, and as they play with the used toys I bought or got for free from the same platform. The Marketplace is my new Craigslist with the convenient ways to pay and people you can preview. One of the sellers, I learned, I have common friends with.

• Noise-Cancelling Headphones

I listened and watch some coaching exercises with the Aaptiv app without disturbing other gym-goers.

• Veggie-loaded Eggs Benedict

It is so good, I did not miss the meat at all. I was so upset a few days ago, I went out by myself for breakfast on a fave breakfast place. OK, it is at Rupert's! This restaurant did not disappoint.

(I want to blame the snow and the slippery road, and not the young driver who insisted on driving thru it without practicing in the snow with an experienced driver first. I mean two accidents in 45 days [however injury-free] is JUST TOO MUCH).

That is my ten (bolded) gratitude kinda-list. What are you thankful for? Anything similar to mine?

Christmas Celebrations 2019

I am still nursing a cold but managed to do three 12-hr shifts this week. Today is my day off and I feel like blah. Receiving bad news today did not help and I choose not to dwell on it at the moment. I felt so bad that I needed to look at the pictures on my phone that, hey, this week is not all bad. We had family times. You see?

December Evening Celebrations

After Work Hospital Unit Party

December is usually a busy month when groups get together and celebrate outside of usual activities. This year, I skipped the holiday luncheon at work because I do not work that day (the 11th) and it was my son's birthday. We, in the intensive unit group, had a separate celebration on the 12th. It started before my shift was over, but I joined after work. I had one hour left of a 6pm to 9 pm all-you-can-eat-limited-choice drinks and appetizers as Paul and I arrived at around 8. With the time we had, we had 2 servings of alcohol, and a few bites of appetizer. I am thankful for days like this. It is great to just relax with co-workers outside the walls of the busy hospital in the intensive care unit.

Daughter's 2oth birthday (In Nike army shirt)

Saturday was my daughter's 20th birthday. She is my baby and looks young for her age, I think. She is still my sweet, fragile, sensitive little girl. We went to an arcade place but that night was an especially busy night. We did not even get a table to sit for appetizers and drink. The savvy prepared for this possibility and had the family have the cake and supper at home before we left. We played arcade games for 2 hours and spent at least half an hour claiming junk  toys with their tickets. I played a few piano games thinking my grandson would punch the keys too. He is 8 months and the keys are huge. Most of the time, I walked around carrying him with me and we went to visit the "big kids" playing.

Son's 21st Birthday

Last Wednesday, was my son's 21st birthday. I am surprised he is spending it with family and not doing some wild party somewhere with his friends. I got him his first legal drink at legal age. Surprisingly, he ordered a mixed drink and not some hard alcohol. Each of us had 2 drinks and we all "Ubered" home. I am thankful for Uber for keeping us safe.

Looking back, this year's December birthdays are the first in a long time we were all together. Nobody was on the run. They are too old for that anyway. My daughter and son were both home and not thinking about spending all day, all night with their friends instead. I am thankful for the togetherness. I am thankful that their wild, young days may be over, or did not happen this year, yet(?).